It took ne 3 years to find MY horse. Never rush a buy, always try and be able to ride the horse for at least a week or two so you are sure you like them. Also, if the horse sells just know it wasnt meant to be. Always remember that. (:Posted via Mobile Device

LOL. I expected to search for at least a year. I was looking for my first horse in 40 yeras, and he had to be perfect. I wanted an 8 - 12 year old gelding that was as 'bombproof' as possible - the ground is a lot harder at 60 thsn at 20. Iwanted a trail horse, but good conformation was a plus. I also wantd a'color' horse - probably a buckskin or a paint. I had shown hunters and jumpers and they were all bays, greys and chestnuts. I started looking at all the sites, and nothing seemed right. I came across an ad for a palomino filly, barely 2 years old. She was very close to my daughter's farm, so decided to go look. I really have no idea why. I certainly didn't want an unbroken filly, especially for a trail horse. And I DEFINETELY was NOT going to buy the first horse I looked at. I planned pon a full vet check, trying a horse several times, and possibly a trial before purchasing.

One and a half hours later, "Nibbles" was delivered to my daughter's farm. No trail, no trial, no vet check. I didn't ride her, saddle her, or handle her. There was just something about her. My husband, who was with me and dead set agaoinst buying a horse, took one took at her and said my Nibbles!" (A beloved mare he had owned as a youngster) Both of us were sold.

Anyway, we have never regretted it., She is PERFECT!!!!!!!!! No bad habits, perfectly sound, no spooking, bucking, or bolting. SHe is calm, willing and eager to learn. Nothing bothers her. Thje few times I have ridden her, she hasn't put one foot wrong and goes wherever I point her. I love her to death, and I could have looked for a hundred years and never found a better horse!

Both of my horses I had my heart set on the first day, unfortunately convincing the owner to sell wasn't as easy. It took 4 years for them to agree to sell me Poco and 6 years for them to agree to sell me Zima. Still worth it! I had "temporary" horses in between that I bought, rode, and sold.

My first horse I bought out of pity. She was amazing, but not my heart horse. My first heart horse came two years later. I knew the second I saw him, at less than a day old. He had to be put down with a fractured hip as a yearling.

I had several horses in between, some were a horrible fit, some just didnt quite click or were unsuited to what I do. I bought them as projects, retrained and resold. I came close to finding the perfect one a couple times I thought(very spooky and I endurance ride, too small for the distance, etc) but they were happier doing something else.

About 6 years after I lost my first heart horse I bought Prezle. She had badly overgrown feet, a terrible topline, was older than I was looking for and smaller. It was NOT love at first site. My first thought was, "at least she is broke, I can give her a tune up and resell, for this price I can't loose money". With a good trim, deworming, teeth floated, a saddle that fits and some topline strengthening excercises, she turned into a little fire ball. It wasn't until We were flying down a narrow, hilly trail full speed, that I realized I had found what I was looking for. She is the horse version of myself. I still think she is so narrow and flexible it feels like riding a wet noodle, and she's so short backed(and necked) that there isnt much infront of you or behind you, but I love her dearly.

So I guess, to sumerize, It took me years to find what I needed, and it wasnt what I wanted, but I had the pleasure of working with some amazing horses in between.

Honestly it really depends on what you're looking for, and how far you're willing to go. Our mare was local and found thru a good friend of mine, so we have some good history on her. Our filly was thousands of miles away. I knew what I was looking for, and there weren't any local breeders who bred just that. It cost us a lot more, but I'm absolutely thrilled with what I have.

Not worth rushing as once you buy it it becomes your 'problem' if its not right
It took me best part of a year to buy Looby and then it was more of a compromise as I wanted something to trail ride with my son and husband when my mare became too stiff to make it fair to her to ask for as much as I needed and wanted something that could also do some showing or dressage as well. In the end I bought her as time was getting tight and though I lover her she's not really a fit for anything.
Jazzy Bee came along all by herself when I wasnt even looking for a horse, that's what often happens!!!

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